Detailed, Modern Crochet Blanket Tutorial + Free Pattern

In Part 1 of this modern crochet granny square blanket pattern, we'll make the puff stitch circles out of various weights of scrap yarn. Get Part 1 of the free pattern below or purchase the pattern PDF in its entirety on LoveCrafts here and on Etsy here.

This crochet puff stitch blanket pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.

If you're new to the Dahlia Scrapgan Casual Crochet Along, head to the main page here to learn all about the inspiration behind the pattern, which yarns will work well and what to expect from the rest of the crochet along.

Then grab your hook, dust off those half used skeins you've been stashing forever and let's get to it!

Puffs, Puffs and More Puffs

The most captivating visual element of this pattern is the puff stitch circles that appear to be floating like lily pads on top of the blanket. Today we get to dive right into circle making using whatever yarns you selected as your accent colors. I've included a detailed explanation of how to use almost any weight yarn for your puff stitch circles in the pattern below.

Choosing Colors

For the sample, I chose a warm color palette made with six different scrap yarn accent colors. There are so many ways to personalize your blanket though.

Here are a few ideas:
• use one accent color for all your puff circles.
• make each puff circle in your blanket a completely different color.
• use different shades of one main color for your puff circles. (see @pattysfrankle's green example here)
• make a monochromatic blanket making puff circles from a yarn very similar in color to your main color.
• hold two strands of worsted weight yarn that are different colors together for a marled look. (see @ole.crochet's example here)
• create sunflower granny squares like @thinkstitchmade did

How Many Circles to Crochet

The number of circles you need for your Dahlia Scrapgan depends on how large you're planning to make it. For a baby blanket, you'll need 16 circles. For a throw-sized blanket, you'll need 20 circles and for a twin bedspread, you'll need 54 circles.

You can find more details about the measurements and yarn requirements for each of these blanket sizes in Part 1 of the free pattern below.

Related: 33+ Crochet Blanket Border Ideas

Video Tutorial Support

If you are new to puff stitches, prefer to learn visually or want to hear more of an explanation of how to use different yarn weights for your circles, I think you'll find the video tutorial really helpful.

Head here to learn how to crochet puff stitch circles by video.

Get the Complete Printable Pattern Immediately

I know some of us like to work at our own pace or prefer to print a pattern instead of viewing it from a screen. If you're a couch/car/park/pool crocheter like me, I think you'll find the inexpensive PDF to be a really helpful investment. It includes all four parts of the pattern immediately and it's formatted for easy printing or viewing on a phone or tablet. Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF on LoveCrafts here and on Etsy here.

The Dahlia Scrapgan
Free Crochet Blanket Pattern - Part 1

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF on LoveCrafts here and on Etsy here.

Save this pattern to your Ravelry here.

Pin this pattern for later here.

Explanation:
Bring together yarns of different weights in harmonious colors to create a blanket your eyes can’t help but dance across. Each square is worked individually, making this a perfect meditative project when you’re on the go. A continuous crochet joining technique brings everything together seamlessly so you’re left with fewer ends to weave in and a blanket made with zero sewing!

Supplies:
Main Color (MC:)
Lion Brand Wool-Ease (Weight: 4/worsted - 197 yds, 3.0 oz)
- Wheat (620-402) – 10 skeins (approx. 875 g)

Accent Colors (AC):
Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti Pilling (Weight: 4/worsted - 185 yds, 3.5 oz)s
- Pomegranate (202-138)
- Gold Heather (202-401)

Lion Brand Basic Stitch Premium (Weight: 4/worsted - 219 yds, 3.5 oz)
- Gold Mine (201-126)

Lion Brand Color Made Easy (Weight: 5/bulky - 247 yds, 7 oz)
- Millennial (195-184)
- Kombucha (195-126)

Lion Brand Heartland (Weight: 4/worsted weight - 251 yds, 5 oz)
- Great Sand Dunes (136-123)

• Tapestry needle
• Size 6 (6.00 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size M (9.00 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• T-pins for blocking
• Steamer or iron with steam setting for blocking
• Blocking board or towel

Purchase a kit with all the yarn you'll need + the pattern ⇨

A Note On Substituting Yarn:
This is a great project to eat up some stash yarn in varying weights. Experiment with holding 1 strand of bulky weight yarn (category 5), 2 strands of worsted weight yarn (category 4) or even 3 strands of dk weight yarn (category 3) to create puff stitch circles. As long as the finished circles in varying weights measure the same distance across, your squares will work out beautifully.

Overall blanket requires approximately 850g of the main color yarn and 500g total of the accent color yarns. In the sample, six accent colors are used, but feel free to experiment with using more variety or even one solid color for all the circles.

TIP: If you’d like to make a larger or smaller blanket, you can plan on each square requiring about 28g of main color yarn and 23g for each puff circle. This does not include the yarn needed for the seamless join or the border.

Sizes:
Pattern is written in Throw size. If different size is desired, modify pattern based on chart below.

	Final measurements	Number of circles to make	Layout squares in a grid of	MC yarn required	AC yarn required
Baby	44 x 44”	16	4 x 4 sqs	750g	385g
Throw	44 x 53”	20	4 x 5 sqs	850g	500g
Twin	94 x 64”	54	6 x 9 sqs	2300g	1300g

Gauge:
Puff circle = 5.5” diameter using larger hook

Finished square = 9.5” after blocking

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
ch – chain
chsp – chain space
dc – double crochet
PM – place marker
rep – repeat
RS – right side
rsc - reverse single crochet
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
slst – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
tc - treble crochet
WS – wrong side
yo – yarn over

Partial Puff – [yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop] twice in the same stitch, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1 to close puff. (same as cat 4 weight puff)

Category 4 Weight Yarn Puff – [yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop] twice in the same stitch, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1 to close puff.

Category 5 Weight Yarn Puff – [yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop] three times in the same stitch, yo and pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch 1 to close puff.

Overall Pattern Notes:
• Ch 3 counts as 1 dc throughout.
• Circles and squares may not lay completely flat depending on your stitch tightness and yarn used. This is normal and will be resolved with blocking.

PUFF STITCH CIRCLES

Notes:

Watch a video tutorial on how to crochet these puff stitch circles here.
Circles can be made with one strand of category 5 (bulky) weight yarn or two strands of category 4 (worsted weight) yarn held together. Either option should create a similarly sized circle, so feel free to use scraps of both weights to create your circles. When creating circles using different weights of yarn, measure the diameter of each finished circle to make sure they are all the same size.
IMPORTANT: In order to create circles of the same size, the number of yarn overs in each puff stitch varies depending on yarn weight. When using category 4 yarn (worsted weight), yarn over twice to create puff stitch. When using category 5 yarn (bulky), yarn over three times to create puff stitch. (See Abbreviations and Glossary or watch the video tutorial for detailed instructions.)
Puff circles are made with the right side (RS) of your fabric facing you throughout. Do not turn work at end of round.
To replicate look of sample blanket: Make 2 Pomegranate, 2 Tan, 4 Gold Mine, 3 Great Sand Dunes, 4 Kombucha and 5 Millennial.

Make 20 using various colors of accent yarn.

With larger hook:

Foundation Round: Make a magic ring.
Alternative Foundation Round: Ch 5, slst to first ch to join into a circle.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 2, partial puff in circle (counts as first puff), 7 puffs in circle; sl st to top of first puff to join. (8 puffs)

Round 2 (RS): Slst into first chsp between puffs, ch 2, partial puff in same sp (counts as first puff), 1 puff in same space, [2 puffs in next chsp] 7 times; sl st to top of first puff to join. (16 puffs)

Round 3 (RS): Slst into first chsp between puffs, ch 2, partial puff in same sp (counts as first puff), 1 puff in same space, 1 puff in next chsp, [2 puffs in next chsp, 1 puff in next chsp] 7 times; sl st to top of first puff to join. (24 puffs)

Fasten off.

The Dahlia Scrapgan Part 2

Now you're ready to head to Part 2 of the Dahlia Scrapgan where we'll learn how to make our puff stitch circles into squares. If you'd like to have the pattern in one easily accessible place, all four stages of the pattern are included in the printable PDF. Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF on LoveCrafts here and on Etsy here.